A day in the life of the Chestnut Hill rail lines (Photos)

The Chestnut Hill East and West Stations are an essential part of the daily life of thousands of northwest commuters. 
The rails also have a rich history–the east and west branches were once competing lines owned by the Reading Railroad and The Pennsylvania Railroad respectively. 

 

The Chestnut Hill East Station was a part of the Reading Railroad line. The station was connected with the lines in the mid-1800s. The Reading Railroad electrified the line in the 1930s. The Chestnut Hill West Station was built later by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1884 to compete with Reading station.  Conrail acquired both lines in 1976. SEPTA acquired the lines in 1983.

 

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